The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-17
PEACE ON EARTH.
Tho Change Which Has Lately Come Ov
the Spirit of stat ecraft,


the Spirit OF stat ecraft,
It is a happy and significant sign of
the present state Of human enlighten-
ment, and hopeful augury for the
future. that cool, temperate counsels in
the adjustment of international ques-
tions are superseding the old-tme arbi-
trament of the sword. Questions, the
mere broaching of which century ago
would be but the herald to the clash Of
arms, are now settled by more ra-
tional tribunal, and war, that charnel-
house of history, is rapidly being rele-
gated to the obscurity of the barbaric
past. The millennium of peace may not
be exactly upon us. but its dawn is
rapidly approaching. and right. not
might, is fast becoming the presiding
genius of the hour.
The most superficial glance Mt the
moves recently made, and those in
progress, upon the chess-board of Eu-
ropean politics, will show the change
which has come over the spirit of state
craft. No sooner does the acquisitive
bump Of one power manifest n dispose
ton of aggression toward another, than
the statesmen of the other powers COM
bine, convince the representative of
the would-be aggressor of the injustice
or foolhartliness of tho proposed on-
slaught, and promptly puncture tho
threatened war bubble. Look at Rus
sia to-day! What keeps her hand from
the throat of insignificant Bulgaria, but
the diplomatic combinations of the
other powers, which tell the autocratic
Muscovite that his grievance, if he has
any, must be determined by another
tribunal than that of his armed legions,
a tribunal before which the little prin-
cipality will have as fair hearing as
her powerful and domincering adver-
sary. Other instances might be cited
to prove that the genius of peace is
abroad. and that the "pomp and cir
cumstance of glorious war; are rapidly
losing their terrible and bewildering
fascination to nations; but it is suffi-
cient argument in favor of the potency
of the new order of things that it can
restrain the hand of the most auto
cratic power in Europe. How near we
are to the time when the battle of the
council board will entirely supcrsede
the sansuinary contention of mighty
armies must be apparent. when so emil
nent soldier as General Sheridan is
moved to give expression to such words
as those which came from his lips not
long since at Philadelphia.
The same broad-minded, conciliatory
spirit which now makes its presence
felt in the direction of the policy Of ma
tions, is likewise present in the councils
that determine the relations between
man and man. Particularly is its in
fluence apparent in the methods
adopted for the settlement Of industrial
disturbances, and in smoothing the diff
ferenees between employers and en-
ployed. There is a less apparent dis
position on the part of the former to
hold themselves aloof from the consid-
Grafton of the just claims of those upon
whose skill and fidelity the success OF
their enterprises are dependent. And
on the part of the latter there is re-
cognition of the necessity of so regu-
lating their demands within reasonable
bounds rs to make their justice appar-
ent, and on the part of both employers
and employed to submit their differ
ences to an impartial tribunal, and to
make the mutual concessions requested
by the arbitrators. Thus the same
generous spirit for the peaceful settle
ment of disputed points is beginning
to dominate the councils of nations
and of men.
The visit and the purposes Of the
English peace deputarion to this coun.
try calls forcible attention to the happy
influences which are at work in behalf
of humanity; influences which appeal
to the highest and noblestimpulses, and
are destined to achieve the greatest
good to the world. The closing years
of the present century herald the dawn
of that which the next century may sec
in its full and glorious refulgence, clos.
ing forever the bloody book Of war,
and opening to the light of heaven aud
the pen of the happy chronicler the
pure and ne -be-sullied pages O.
beauteous peace. BLESSED be the
peacemakers, says the beatitude; and
well may we add: BLESSED be arbtra
ton, whose mandate is the oracle oi
peace.-Boston Budget
YOUTHFUL VANITY.